Wall brace for swimming pool wall

ABSTRACT

For mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool, a brace made from a single sheet of stainless steel has plural members, which are unitary with one another and which have reinforcing flanges. Each brace is cut from such a sheet via a laser, which may be computer-controlled, and a subsequent bending operation provides said brace with flanges, as and where indicated above. Hence, dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another can be easily achieved.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a brace for mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A swimming pool of a modem type has stainless steel walls clad with polyvinyl chloride, flooring made from polyvinyl chloride, and multiple braces, which are mounted outside and against the walls at spaced intervals, e.g., every three feet, and which are anchored to concrete slabs. The braces are used to brace the walls against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with water. In an in-ground installation, if backfill is compacted against the walls, the compacted backfill may be also used to brace the walls against those forces. In an above-ground installation, even if the braces are enclosed by decking or otherwise, the walls are braced against those forces solely or primarily by the braces. Swimming pools of the noted type are available commercially from Kiefer Pool Equipment Co. of Zion, Ill., under its MILLENIUM trademark.

[0003] Prior art braces for those swimming pools have been fabricated from multiple, elongate pieces of galvanized steel, each defining a right angle in cross section, which comprise vertical, horizontal, and sloping pieces that are welded at multiple joints. Such braces have been found to have shortcomings. It has been found to be very expensive to fabricate those braces with properly made welds. Improperly made welds are prone to corrosion, failures, or both. It has been found to be very difficult to achieve dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another. Absent dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another, installation of a swimming pool of the noted type may prove to be unduly expensive, particularly if each brace has to be extensively adjusted before or after being anchored to a concrete slab.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention provides a brace made sheet metal, e.g., stainless steel, so as to have plural members, which are unitary with one another, for mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with water.

[0005] One of those unitary members is mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and may be conveniently called a vertically mountable member. Plural unitary members are oriented so as to extend outwardly from the vertically mountable member when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and may be conveniently called outwardly extensible members. Each of those outwardly extensible members has a proximal end, which adjoins the vertically mountable member, and a distal end.

[0006] Generally, at least one of the outwardly extensible members is oriented so as to be vertically spaced above a bottom one of the outwardly extensible members when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool. Preferably, two outwardly extensible members are oriented similarly. In any event, a further one of the unitary members is oriented so as to extend downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the distal ends of the outwardly extensible members.

[0007] Preferably, the unitary members are oriented so that the bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends downwardly and horizontally and so that each other one of the outwardly extensible members extends horizontally when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, each member has two generally parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said member.

[0009] In a preferred mode for carrying out this invention, each brace is cut from such a sheet via a laser, which may be computer-controlled, and a subsequent bending operation provides said brace with flanges, as and where indicated above. Hence, dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another can be easily achieved, within tolerances that are appropriate for installation of a swimming pool of the noted type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brace embodying this invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating several braces, each conforming to the brace of FIG. 1, as positioned for mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool. In FIG. 2, a portion of the wall, which has a gutter at its upper edge, and a portion of the gutter are suggested in broken lines.

[0012]FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively, are front, back, top, bottom, left edge, and right edge views of the brace, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and other views, a brace 10 embodying this invention is cut from a single sheet of stainless steel via a computer-controlled laser (not shown) and is bent, in a subsequent bending operation, so as to have plural members, which are unitary with one another, and so as to have plural flanges, which are unitary with those members. Braces similar to and including the brace 10 are intended to replace prior art braces described above and, except as explained below, to function similarly, to be similarly mounted, and to be similarly anchored.

[0014] As suggested in FIG. 2, braces similar to and including the brace 10 are mounted to a wall W of a swimming pool P and to other walls of the swimming pool P at spaced intervals, e.g., every three feet, so as to brace the wall W and the other walls against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool P is filled with water. The brace 10 is anchored to a concrete slab S via a known anchor (not shown) and the similar braces mounted to the wall Wand to the other walls are anchored similarly. As suggested in FIG. 2, the wall W of the swimming pool P has a gutter G, which is attached to the wall W along an upper edge of the wall W. The other walls of the swimming pool P have similar gutters. The brace 10 and the similar braces mounted to the walls including the wall W are adapted to support the gutters including the gutter G.

[0015] Advantageously, the laser-cutting and subsequent bending operations enable dimensional uniformity and consistent flatness from one brace to another to be easily achieved, within tolerances that are appropriate for installation of a swimming pool of the type noted above. Particular details of laser-cutting and subsequent bending operations can be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention. Particular details of the swimming pool P, of its walls including the wall P, and of its gutters including the gutter G can be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention. Particular details of the concrete slabs including the concrete slab S and of the anchors noted above can be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention.

[0016] The unitary members of the brace 10 comprise a member 20 that is mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and against the wall W of the swimming pool P, and that may be conveniently called a vertically mountable member 20. The vertically mountable member 20 has spaced holes 22 to receive suitable fasteners (not shown) which are used to mount the vertically mountable member 20, in the vertical orientation, to an outside surface of the wall W of the swimming pool P. Particular details of suitable fasteners can be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention. The brace 10 is formed, as discussed above, so that the vertically mountable member 20 has a reinforcing flange 24 along one edge, i.e., the edge nearest to the outside surface of wall W of the swimming pool P when the vertically mounted member 20 is mounted thereto.

[0017] The unitary members of the brace 10 comprise three unitary members that are oriented so as to extend outwardly from the vertically mountable member 20 when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, and that may be conveniently called outwardly extensible members.

[0018] The outwardly extensible members comprise a lowermost member 30, which has a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34, which is oriented so as to extend outwardly and downwardly in a sloping orientation from the vertically mountable member 20 when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, and which adjoins the vertically mountable member 20 so that the proximal end 32 of the lowermost member 30 is spaced above the nearer end 26 of the vertically mountable member 20, i.e., its lower end 26, when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in its vertical orientation. The lowermost member 30 has a reinforcing flange 36 extending along substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation. The lowermost member 30 has a reinforcing flange 38 extending along substantially all of its opposite edge.

[0019] The outwardly extensible members comprise an intermediate member 40, which has a proximal end 42 and a distal end 44, which is oriented so as to extend outwardly and horizontally from the vertically mountable member 20, and which adjoins the vertically mountable member 20 so that the proximal end 42 of the intermediate member 40 is spaced above the proximal end 32 of the lowermost member 30 and below one end 38 of the vertically mountable member 30, i.e., its upper end, when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above. The intermediate member 40 has a reinforcing flange 46 extending along substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation. The intermediate member 40 has a reinforcing flange 48 extending along substantially all of its opposite edge.

[0020] The outwardly extensible members comprise an uppermost member 50, which has a proximal end 52 and a distal end 54, which is oriented so as to extend outwardly and horizontally from the vertically mountable member 20 when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, and which adjoins the vertically mountable member 20 so that the proximal end 52 of the uppermost member 50 is spaced above the proximal end 42 of the intermediate member 40 and below the nearer end 28 of the vertically mountable member 20, i.e., its upper end, when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation. The uppermost member 50 has a reinforcing flange 54 extending along a substantially all of one edge, i.e., its upper edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation. The uppermost member 50 has a reinforcing flange 56 along substantially all of its opposite edge.

[0021] The unitary members of the brace 10 further comprise an intersecting member 60 that is oriented so as to extend downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the distal end 54 of the uppermost member 50, the distal end 44 of the intermediate member 40, and the distal end 32 of the lowermost member 30. The intersecting member 60 has a reinforcing flange 62 extending along a substantially all of one edge, i.e., its outer edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above.

[0022] The brace further comprises a gusset 70 merging with the uppermost member 50, at end near the distal end 54 of the uppermost member 50, and merging with the intersecting member 60, so as to be disposed above uppermost member 50 when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above. In a region above the uppermost member 50, between the vertically mountable member 20 and the gusset 70, the brace 10 is adapted to support the gutter G of the swimming pool P.

[0023] The gusset 70 is triangular except for a small, rectangular region 72, which is its uppermost region when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above. The gusset 70 has a reinforcing flange 72 extending along one edge, i.e., its outer edge when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, so that the reinforcing flange 62 of the intersecting member 60 and the reinforcing flange 72 of the gusset 70 are seamless, coplanar continuations of each other. The gusset 70 has a reinforcing flange 74 extending along another edge, which is nearer to the vertically mountable member 20 and which is vertical when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above. The gusset 70 has a reinforcing flange 80, which either is formed as an extension of the small, rectangular region 72 of the gusset 70 and is welded to the reinforcing flange 74 along a welded seam 82, as illustrated, or is formed as an extension of the reinforcing flange 74 and is welded to the small, rectangular region 72 of the gusset 70.

[0024] At its distal end 43, the lowermost member 30 has an endmost flange 90, which is oriented to as to be substantially horizontal when the vertically mountable member 20 is mounted in the vertical orientation, as described above, which is welded to the reinforcing flange 38 of the lowermost member 30, along a welded seam 92, and which is welded to the reinforcing flange 62 of the intersecting member 60, along a welded seam 94. The small flange 90, which rests on the concrete slab S when the brace 10 is anchored to the concrete slab S. The endmost flange 90 of the lowermost member 30, the reinforcing flange 62 of the intersecting member 60, or both can have suitable apertures (not shown) to accommodate an anchor (not shown) used to anchor the brace 10 to the concrete slab S. 

1. A brace made from sheet metal and having plural members, which are unitary with one another, for mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with water, wherein the unitary members include a vertically mountable member mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, wherein the unitary members further include plural unitary members oriented so as to extend outwardly from the vertically mountable member when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, each outwardly extensible member having a proximal end, which adjoins the vertically mountable member, and each outwardly extensible member having a distal end, wherein at least one of the outwardly extensible members is oriented so as to be vertically spaced above a bottom one of the outwardly extensible members when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and wherein a further one of the unitary members is oriented so as to extend downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the distal ends of the outwardly extensible members.
 2. The brace of claim 1 wherein the unitary members are oriented so that the bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends downwardly and horizontally and so that each other one of the outwardly extensible members extends horizontally when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.
 3. The brace of claim 1 wherein each member has two generally parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said member.
 4. The brace of claim 2 wherein each member has two generally parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said member.
 5. A brace made from sheet metal and having plural members, which are unitary with one another, for mounting outside and against a wall of a swimming pool so as to brace the wall against outwardly directed forces, which are imparted when the swimming pool is filled with water, wherein the unitary members include a vertically mountable member mountable in a vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, wherein the unitary members further include plural unitary members oriented so as to extend outwardly from the vertically mountable member when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, each outwardly extensible member having a proximal end, which adjoins the vertically mountable member, and each outwardly extensible member having a distal end, wherein two of the outwardly extensible members are oriented so as to be vertically spaced above a bottom one of the outwardly extensible members when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool, and wherein a further one of the unitary members is oriented so as to extend downwardly and outwardly in a sloping orientation, so as to intersect the distal ends of the outwardly extensible members.
 6. The brace of claim 5 wherein the unitary members are oriented so that the bottom one of the outwardly extensible members extends downwardly and horizontally and so that each other one of the outwardly extensible members extends horizontally when the vertically mountable member is mounted in a generally vertical orientation, outside and against the wall of the swimming pool.
 7. The brace of claim 5 wherein each member has two generally parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said member.
 8. The brace of claim 6 wherein each member has two generally parallel edges, which are interrupted where said member adjoins another member, and wherein, along at least a substantial portion of at least one of the generally parallel edges of each member where the same one of the generally parallel edges of said member is not interrupted, said member has a flange reinforcing said member. 